Over the last few days I have been witness to the tail-end of the great snow event in the Pacific Northwest, an apocalyptic phenomenon one Seattle radio show host has drolly dubbed “Snowmageddon 2008.” While a large portion of the country has experienced below-normal temperatures and snow at this same time, for most the inclement weather was either short-lived or not beyond what is normally experienced at this time of year. However, nearly two weeks of snow, ice and sub-freezing temperatures in the normally temperate west side of the Cascades is highly unusual, and the citizens here haven’t seen a similar such event in forty years. Both Portland and Seattle international airports saw massive delays and cancellations, some due to the fact that both ran out of de-icer for the planes. Portland’s normally efficient light-rail system saw portions of the lines shut down due to ice on the tracks, and many bus lines in the major cities were not able to run at all due to broken chains, icy and unplowed streets and steep terrain. On top of all that, there are very few snowplows in this part of the country, where a large fleet is not economically reasonable because it is so rarely needed. Usually snowfall here is light and disappears in warm rains after a day or two at most. And, with the busy holiday travel and shopping season, such a major weather event could not have come at a worse time. When we drove into the City of Roses (now the city of rutted ice, abandoned vehicles and snow-clogged streets) two days ago, we were surprised to see that even parts of major highways and arterials had obviously never enjoyed the services of a plow, although sanding trucks had attacked some areas. After a few days of temperatures in the forties and nights above freezing, the snow and ice are rapidly melting away, and soon things will be back to normal.  Now The Oregonian‘s editorial pages are filled with commentary and letters to the editor decrying the pathetic official response to the traffic troubles and calling for studies and reviews . . . and more than a few heads. Realistically, though, after a few weeks of such noise, the realities of the current economic situation and the rarity of the past weeks’ weather will mean that the 30-year old plows will likely not be replaced or the fleet increased any time soon. The memories of those who lived through the mess will focus on their pioneer-like perseverance through the worst of it, and everyone will go back to grumbling about the rain and winter gloom. And me, lucky me, will be blissfully reliving my week in Mexico!  Patty Vanikiotis, proofreader